Vulgar Latin (in Latin,
sermo vulgaris, "folk speech") is a
blanket term covering the popular
dialects and
sociolects of the
Latin language which diverged from each other in the early
Middle Ages, evolving into the
Romance languages by the 9th century. The terms Vulgar Latin and
Late Latin are often used synonymously. Vulgar Latin can also refer to
vernacular speech from other periods, including the
Classical period, in which case it may also be called
Popular Latin.
Spoken Latin differed from literary Latin in its pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar, though some of its features did not appear until the late Empire. Other features are likely to have been present much earlier in spoken Latin.
During the Middle Ages, Vulgar Latin coexisted with a more classically structured form of the language used by scholars, scribes and the clergy in formal settings, but lacking any native speakers, called Medieval Latin.
The name "vulgar" simply means "folk", derived from the Latin word vulgaris, meaning "of people". "Vulgar Latin" has a variety of meanings
